Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Hundreds of visitors from around the world, attending yesterday’s official public opening celebrations of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, were treated to a low-level fly-by of the Jean Nouvel designed museum by one of Etihad Airways’ flagship Airbus A380 aircraft.

Sporting
the airline’s ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ livery, the aircraft chosen for the display
now also features Louvre Abu Dhabi’s official logo on each of its four engines,
to promote the opening of the institution.

Etihad Airways also took the
opportunity to capture a series of spectacular images from the fly-by, and
commissioned a short video directed by up-and-coming Emirati director, Ahmed
Abdulqader, shot from the flight deck of the aircraft and from within Louvre
Abu Dhabi, to celebrate the historic occasion. Two specially equipped helicopters
were also positioned above the capital to capture air-to-air filming of the
aircraft as it flew over the museum, located in the UAE capital’s Saadiyat
Cultural District.

Peter
Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer, said: “Echoing the
sentiments from the signing of our landmark partnership agreement with Louvre
Abu Dhabi last month, Etihad Airways is today honoured to play its part in the
inauguration of this hugely important universal institution.

“Abu
Dhabi can now proudly take its place among the world’s foremost cultural
destinations, and we, as the UAE’s national airline, are poised to play our
part in bringing millions of guests to our home to experience this modern
wonder of art and humanity first-hand.”

The
Etihad Airways Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 fleets feature multi award-winning interiors
influenced by Abu Dhabi’s architecture and landscape. These include ceiling designs
and light projections in the boarding zones, Lobby Lounge, First Class and The
Residence cabins of the A380s, and stylised sconce lighting in the Business
Studios of both aircraft types - all inspired by Louvre Abu Dhabi’s spectacular
dome and its ‘Rain of Light’ effect, mimicking the way sunlight streams through
the fronds of palm trees in a desert oasis.

Etihad
Airways is the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s official airline partner, having signed the
first exclusive platinum partnership in October.

As a
Platinum partner, Etihad Airways will work closely with Louvre Abu Dhabi on
areas of brand partnership, marketing, social media, public and media
relations, events and exhibitions, cultural exchanges, cargo support, inflight
programming, and travel trade support. Etihad Airways’ destination management
company, Hala, will collaborate with the museum on bespoke tour packages in Abu
Dhabi.

To coincide with the
opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi, Etihad Holidays, the airline’s holiday division, is
launching a set of all-inclusive destination packages which showcase the many varied
attractions of Abu Dhabi and which feature the museum prominently.